Louis Roederer Cristal 2016

Louis Roederer Cristal, Champagne, France, 2016

Grapes: 58% Pinot Noir & 42% Chardonnay. A blend of fruit from seven Grand Cru sites. Biodynamic farming. 31% of the wines are vinified in oak. No malolactic fermentation. Aged for 6 years on yeast and a further 8 months in bottle. Dosage 7g/L

Producer Tasting Note:

Cristal 2016 is simply phenomenal! From a cool, late vintage, it reveals that rare and magical balance between intense, pure aromas, an energetic vibrancy, a juicy palate, and a saline, chalky finish.

Brilliant, luminous yellow colour. Magnificent, slow, and fine effervescence. Intense, deep, and precise bouquet where aromas of white flowers (acacia), concentrated and roasted citrus (lemons), and ripe yellow fruits (peach, mirabelle plum) mingle. After a few minutes, discreet iodine, powdery, and roasted nuances attest to the autolysis of the yeasts during ageing on lees. On the palate, the impression is immediate, soft, and delicate, more approachable than ever! A sabayon of ripe, concentrated, and juicy fruit, the signature of great 2016 Pinot Noirs, with a soft and caressing texture thanks to their chalky soil. The effervescence is tactile, perfectly integrated, and almost salty. The notes of harvest and oyster shell are hallmarks of great slow-ripening, late-maturing Chardonnays. The substance is there, powdery, grainy, and deliciously chocolatey. We are very close to the “ideal” balance, at once crisp, saline, and iodine-rich, with a long, chalky, and crystalline finish that builds in a crescendo. The sensation is refined, flavorful, and pure… like the infinite grace of an opera ballerina. Cristal 2016 is pure, both delicate and concentrated. It is the great, perfect, and self-evident Cristal: 50% sun-drenched (Pinot Noirs with ripe and juicy fruit) and 50% soil-drenched (chalky, and saline Chardonnays). It is similar to the 2002, 2008, and 2012 vintages.

Critics' Tasting Notes:

"A dazzling new edition of this wine, the 2016 Louis Roederer ‘Cristal’ Champagne is a world-class combination of 58% Pinot Noir and 42% Chardonnay. This edition of ‘Cristal’ was given 7G/L dosage. Chalky minerals mark the nose alongside white grapefruit blossom, marzipan, star jasmine and suggestions of kumquat zest that all meld in the glass. The palate is filled with crushed seashells and wet salty stones that combine with rich melon, lemon rind and tangerine zest flavors that combine with suggestions of pastry crust on the palate. Big, round and generous, this exudes class in terms of length, tension and flavor density. A gorgeous wine in its heady youth, enjoy over the next twenty plus years to come."  Drink 2025-2045

97/100 points, Owen Bargreen, January 2025

"The finest rendition since 2013, the 2016 Cristal has turned out beautifully. A vintage that Lecaillon describes as “difficult in the vineyards but beautiful in the cellar,” it had suffered slightly in reputation due to the gloomy mood during the challenging growing season, but the results are indeed impressive. The fifth edition produced entirely from organically farmed and certified fruit, and heavily based on Pinot Noir, the 2016 represents the contemporary quality of Cristal, combining the concentration of 2002 with the precision and cut of 2013. Disgorged in July 2024 with a dosage of seven grams per liter, it opens in the glass to reveal a bouquet of lemon zest, white flowers and peeled almond, framed by youthful reduction. On the palate, it is bright and electric, with a pure core of fruit, pinpoint mousse and a textural attack, concluding with a long, saline finish. Drink it alongside the 2015, and it will illuminate its clarity and integration."  Drink 2027-2056

96+/100 points, Kristaps Karklins, WINE ADVOCATE, April 2025

"Light golden yellow, silver reflections, fine, persistent mousse. Delicate nuances of fresh lime, white tropical fruit, floral aromas, a hint of green apple; conveys cool, attractive freshness. Taut, already full of chalky salinity on the palate, finely-meshed, notes of vineyard peach, very lively, lemony touch, salty finish, a complex food wine with good ageing potential. Will seamlessly join the series of great cool years such as 2002, 2008 and 2012."

99/100 points, FALSTAFF (Austria), October 2025

Food Match: The pronounced salinity and oyster-shell notes of the 2016 vintage make seafood the absolute benchmark pairing. Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon (Roederer's Chef de Cave) specifically showcases Cristal alongside premium cuts like sea bream, cuttlefish, and fatty toro tuna. Caviar served on a simple blini or a potato soufflé Truffled free-range poultry. Lightly seared Foie Gras. Aged Comté cheese (24–36 months).